U.S. Rep. Ami Bera's father was sentenced Thursday to a year and a day in prison and three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to soliciting illegal contributions for his son's campaign.

In addition to serving time in a federal prison, Babulal "Bob" Bera, 83, was also fined $100,000.

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The Bera family and supporters appeared to be stunned as the judge read the sentence in a federal court.

"This is one of the most difficult experiences of Congressman Bera's and his entire family's lives," Bera's campaign manager Jerid Kurtz said. "Babulal Bera made a grave mistake and he now has to face the consequences of that."

Prosecutors had asked for a year behind bars and $130,000 in fines, while the defense wanted three years of supervised release.

Bera's political opponent for Congress in 2014, Doug Ose, said Bera had to know about his father's actions.

"The way people raise money in politics when they decide to run, they make a list. They sit down with their friends and family and they make a list of everybody they can reach out and touch," Ose said. "So, Ami Bera was sitting in a room when the list was made of these 90 individuals who were then contacted. There is no way he didn't know what was going on."

Kurtz said Bera didn't have knowledge of his father's actions.

"The U.S. Attorney and the authorities involved have repeatedly noted that neither Congressman Bera nor his campaign had any knowledge," Kurtz said. "There was no evidence he had any knowledge of these activities and he's cooperated fully since the start."

The contributions amounted about $270,000, according to a complaint filed in federal court by the U.S. attorney.

Campaign finance laws limit contributions that an individual can make to a campaign to $2,500, a rule that’s meant to limit the influence an individual donor can have on a campaign.

There was no indication that Ami Bera participated in the contributions or knew about them, U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert said.

"I wish my dad had reached out to me or my campaign,” Ami Bera told KCRA 3. “Or you know, any political professional because there was so many ways that he could have helped out legally."